Monday, 4 July 2011

By REBECCA ENGLISH Rapturous welcome: Prince William and his wife Catherine arrive at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation where they took part in a citizenship ceremony to mark Canada Day. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a red hat with maple leaves

But as they arrived for an official Canada Day show in an open-topped landau, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked simply overwhelmed by the adulation – and the heat.

More than half a million flag waving people crammed the streets of the city – many having travelled hundreds, if not thousands of miles - just to catch a glimpse of the glamorous newly-weds in temperatures of more than 90F.

Spectacular: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive by horse drawn landau to Parliament Hill in Ottawa

Flourish: The Duchess smiles for the cameras as she shows off her hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co

While many were keen to see the prince, there is little doubt that it is Kate, 29, who is winning their hearts in what is widely considered to be a dress rehearsal for the rest of her public life.

Television channels and newspapers are offering wall to wall coverage of the new Duchess's charm offensive - and while she insists she doesn't want to be seen as just a 'clothes horse', Kate did not disappoint.

In her first 24 hours on Canadian soil there have no fewer than five different outfits, beginning with the £575 smart navy Smythe les Vestes blazer, Roland Mouret shift and Manolo Bhlanik pumps she sported on leaving Heathrow on Thursday.

Display: Canadian Snowbird planes fly over the top of the Peace Tower during Canada Day celebrations

All a bit much: A female fan who fainted is looked after by paramedics in Ottawa

This was followed by a blue and cream lace Erdem dress and her much-loved £175 LK Bennett cream pumps for her first two engagements, a visit to the National War Memorial followed by a formal welcome at Government House.

In the evening there was a 'fun' BBQ with the cream of Canada's youth for which Kate rolled out another pair of old favourites, the Issa bird print wrap dress she wore the day before she got married with a pair of Pied a Terre sling back wedge heels.

Atten-shun! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch a ceremonial display by soldiers on Parliament Hill in Ottawa

An estimated half-a-million people gathered around Parliament Hill to watch the Canada Day show

Wave for the crowds: The Prince and his wife's ride through Ottawa was reminiscent of their wedding procession through the streets of London

Style icon: Kate was in a white Reiss dress that she wore for her official engagement photograph

Pomp and ceremony: The Royal couple find time to share a joke during the celebrations (left) but were solemn and silent for the more formal parts

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed William and Kate as 'the world's most famous newlyweds'

Today there were another outfit to wow the crowds including another familiar sight, the cream £159 Nanette dress by high street store Reiss that she wore for her engagement portrait. The dress was topped off with a Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co hat.

Proudly pinned to the Duchess's dress was The Queen Mother's diamond Maple Leaf brooch, given to the late monarch by the people of Canada in 1939 and passed down through a generation of royal women.

She accessorised this time with an on-trend Anya Hindmarch tan and coral clutch, in the shape of a fan.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge share a joke as they visit the Canadian Museum of Civilisation

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chat during a citizenship ceremony: Kate's brooch was borrowed from the Queen

At the museum, there were 25 people from 14 countries who became Canadian citizens in front of the Royal couple

Her final outfit was to be unveiled overnight at an evening pop and rock concert.

And next week Kate is set to create a stir again when she dons full 'western' dress including jeans, shirt and cowboy boot at a rodeo in Calgary.

On their first full day of engagements in Ottawa, the launch pad for their gruelling 11 day tour of Canada and the U.S., the couple attended a Citizenship Ceremony.

Popular touch: Kate greets a mother with her newborn baby (left) and receives flowers off some of the crowds outside

Charmed: The couple greeted newly sworn in Canadian citizens who presented them with flags and flowers

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomed them to an afternoon program at Parliament Hill as 'the world's most famous newlyweds' and said they represent 'our unbreakable link with our past and our unqualified optimism for the future'.

The Royal couple watched intently while 25 young men and women – from vastly different backgrounds and cultures - became fully-fledged Canadians.

Each took the Oath of Citizenship, professing loyalty to the prince's grandmother, the Queen.

As each new citizen stepped forward, William presented them with a folded Canadian flag before his wife then handed over a small hand flag.

Then it was off to the official Canada Day celebrations in an open-topped carriage similar to the one the couple used on the way back to Buckingham Palace following their April wedding.

The state landau was built in the 1890s from hand-wrought iron and carved wood. It was bought by Governor General Earl Grey in 1911 for $4,000 and donated to the nation.

But the stifling heat took its toll and Kate's make-up began to melt. She gestured towards her cheeks and told Prime Minister Stephen Harper's wife Laureen: 'I'm just so hot. It's incredible.'

Hosts: William and Catherine followed by Canada's Governor General David Johnston and his wife Sharon on the escalator (left) as they arrive for the Citizenship Ceremony where they were seated together on stage

Happy couple: Kate and William stand alongside Canada's Governor General David Johnston (left) and Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney (right)

As they arrived, the crowds - many waving home-made banners saying Canada loves William and Kate - went wild and their reception was akin to a pop concert.

The couple took their places in a VVIP section and watched the two hour show designed to celebrate the nation's 144th birthday and featured both music and military displays.

William also gave a short speech to thunderous applause and high pitched screams in which he thanked the Canadian people for their welcome.

He talked of his and Kate's family ties to Canada - in French and English, as he had a day earlier.

The star attraction: Signs carried by the crowd included 'Canada loves Will and Kate'

Prince William said that Kate had learned about Canada from her late grandfather, 'who held this country dear to his heart for he trained in Alberta as a young pilot during the Second World War'.

On his side, he spoke of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The queen, he said, 'has asked me to convey her warmest good wishes to the people of Canada, and her happy and abiding memories of being on Parliament Hill with Thee Duke of Edinburgh one year ago'.

The prince referred to his grandmother as 'the Queen of Canada,' since she remains Canada's head of state, drawing a loud cheer from the crowd.

He said the queen was watching their Canada tour with interest.

Aides have told the Mail the couple have been 'thrilled and touched' by the way in which the country – where the Queen is still head of state – has taken them to their hearts.

'It's unbelievable. I don't any of us expected anything like this,' they said.

Some people had waited through the night to see the Royal couple

Patriotism: Canadians dressed in red and brandishing signs supporting Kate and William swamped the event